South Korea claims North hacked nuclear attack response plans

If confirmed, the reported hacking attack by the North would be a major blow for South Korea at a time when its relations with rival North Korea are at a low point.

If the United States and North Korea went to war, what kinds of targets would Pyongyang want to strike with its nuclear arsenal?

"In addition, member states will not provide new work authorizations to North Korean nationals to enter and work in their territory as they are suspected of generating revenue which is used to support the country's illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs", the European Union said in a statement. Neither Lee nor Defense Ministry officials responded to attempts late Tuesday to confirm the stories.

However, the South Korean defence ministry has refused to comment about this allegation.

Senior diplomats of South Korea and the United States will hold a vice-ministerial strategic dialogue next week in Seoul, South Korea's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

U.S. B-1 bomber, center, flies over Osan Air Base with US jets in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016.

The U.S. flew the two B-1B Lancer bombers over the peninsula along with South Korean F-15k fighter planes and additional fighters from Japan, which the U.S. military said was the first such nighttime maneuver conducted by the three countries together.

The drills were conducted not long after Lee broke the news about the alleged cyberattacks to reporters.

"There is an urgent need for the military to change and update parts that were stolen by North Korea", Lee said. Given that set of circumstances, the Kim regime would likely chose to use its nuclear weapons. But Kim, the third generation of his family to rule, is officially revered in the North, and any suggestion of removing him from power is taken extremely seriously in Pyongyang. He revealed that around 235 gigabytes of military documents had been stolen from the Defence Integrated Data Centre, and that 80% of them have yet to be identified.

Information on South Korea's special forces was also reportedly accessed, as well as important details on significant power plants and military facilities in the South.

Seoul says North Korea has repeatedly staged cyberattacks on South Korean business and government websites.